RENFREW COUNTY (Pembroke) — The Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA) has made a significant investment in new equipment, providing patients at the Pembroke Regional Hospital and in the community with a top-of-the-line instrument that will mean quicker turn-around times for lab results and enhanced testing abilities.
On June 11th, the new Roche Analyzer went into operation, following an extensive period of testing, validating, quality assurance and training for staff, as well as other behind-the-scenes tasks that are required before new equipment can be used. This extensive period of testing and training was done to ensure that the lab produces and reports the highest quality of test results for patients and staff. Given that laboratory test results can influence up to 70 percent of medical decision making, work is done to ensure that results are as accurate as possible for both the physician and patient.
“This is a huge step forward in terms of advancement in technology,” said Lab Manager Chetan Jariwala. “PRH is the second largest laboratory site outside of Ottawa in our network and this is a real investment in the needs of the local community that will contribute to better patient care,” Mr. Jariwala said, adding that the majority of hospital laboratory sites in the network are receiving the same equipment to allow for standardized testing and results across Eastern Ontario.
Chief of Staff Dr. Tom Hurley said patients will benefit from the new equipment through quicker turnaround times and additional tests that can now be processed locally. “As well, the updated analyzers will improve standardization amongst the medical laboratories in Eastern Ontario and will allow us to continue the excellent service offered by EORLA at the PRH.”
The new instrumentation which conducts chemistry testing and immunoassay (a technique for analyzing and measuring the concentration of antibodies, hormones, etc. in the body) replaces two separate machines that were still functioning but outdated.
Lab Director, Dr. David Colantonio said the new equipment reads the barcode on a sample in order to determine what tests are required, then sends it on to the appropriate part of the analyzer.
From a staff perspective, he said the equipment makes the process more efficient and allows for a greater capacity of tests to be done.
“With this technology, there are also improvements in some of the tests themselves, such as implementing a higher sensitivity test that can either detect or rule-out cardiac conditions or issues,” Dr. Colantonio said.
And because the equipment is new, there will be less required downtime for maintenance, helping to make it more cost effective.
Dr. Colantonio said the lab staff at PRH has worked hard over the last several months to ensure that transitioning to the new equipment would be as seamless as possible from a clinical perspective with no interruptions or delays in patient care.
The old equipment, which is still functional, will in part be donated to a college that trains Medical Laboratory Technologists as well as to a smaller hospital in the region in order to help increase their capacity.
EORLA is a member-owned, non-profit organization encompassing the operation of 19 licensed, acute-care, hospital-based clinical laboratories that service clinical programs across the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (CLHIN) of Eastern Ontario.
A leading, innovative model of integrated laboratory practices in the province, the purpose of EORLA is to deliver patient-focused, consistent, high-quality and cost-effective hospital-based laboratory services to meet the needs of the region’s patients.
